Musical instrument support



Nov. 26, 1957 A. vAccARo ET'AL 2,814,229

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT Filed Jan. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORY ADELAIDE VACCA RO BY ANNE CULCASI Nov. 26, 1957 A. VACCARO ET AL 2,814,229

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT Filed Jan. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR! Z4 ADELAIDE VACCARO BY ANNE C ULCASI United States Patent MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT Adelaide Vaccaro and Anne Culcasi, New York, N. Y. Application January 18, 1956, Serial No. 560,005

1 Claim. (Cl. 84-327) This invention relates to a support for a stringed musical instrument, and more particularly for an instrument of a size between those of a violin and viola.

An object is to provide a novel rest or support whereby the instrument may be comfortably supported on the lap.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the instrument and its support as they appear when in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational View in which the dotted lines show an adjusted position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, still further enlarged, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the support per se.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified support.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the modified support.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line 77 of Fig. 6.

The instrument constituting the invention has been generally designated 10 and in its shape, stringing, tuning means, etc., is similar to a violin or viola. It is, however, of a size substantially midway between those of a violin and viola and in a preferred embodiment is approximately thirty-six inches in length. This size, not heretofore known in a stringed instrument of this type, has been found to produce an attractive, mellow tone wholly difierent from that of either of these conventional instruments.

A support 12 for the instrument comprises a single piece of thin, springable sheet metal shaped to include a planiform plate member 14 medially between its ends, the plate having a central, rounded depression 16. Formed on opposite ends of the plate are approximately semicircular, upwardly arched end plate members 22.

An elongated tip 18 is secured to a depending projection 20 formed on the instrument, said tip seating in the depression 16.

In use, the support is positioned astride the thighs of the seated musician with the tip 18 in depression 16. The instrument can be readily moved about, and if one has the tendency to tilt the instrument as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the rest or support can be bent downwardly at one end or the entire support bodily tilted.

In Figs. 5-7 a modified support 12 is shown, having a middle plate member 14 formed with a conical depression 16 and depending end flanges 26 providing abutments that limit upward swinging movement of arcuate end plate members 22* by engaging depending extensions 28 of said end members, that are hingedly connected to the flanges 26 by hinge pins 30.

To the undersides of the end plate members, there are cemented friction pads 24 of cork or the like to keep the rest from slipping. These may be used also on the first form of the invention.

In the modified construction, either end plate member will swing downwardly as one or the other leg is dropped, according to the desires of the user, thus to provide maximum comfort for the user.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A musical instrument support comprising a rectangularshaped plate constituting the body of the support, flanges depending from the long edges of said plate, arcuateshaped plates hingedly connected along the edges of said flanges, said arcuate-shaped plates normally extending above the rectangular-shaped plate, said latter plate having a conical depression in the center thereof for receiving and supporting the tip end of a musical instrument.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,488 Reed Sept. 19, 1899 1,253,704 Merendino Jan. 15, 1918 1,413,636 Torchia Apr. 25, 1922 1,513,352 Thompson Oct. 28, 1924 1,708,285 Truett et al. Apr. 9, 1929 2,664,777 Kopa Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 344,154 France Aug. 27, 1904 203,857 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1923 111,331 Sweden July 25, 1944 

